Self-closing match box



May 29, 1923.

R. GoNzALEz SELF CLOSING MATCH BOX original Filed Aug. v, 1920 R. Go/zsl l INVENTDIR` ATTORNEY WITNESS! Patentes Mey as, 1923,

` ,45ans snLr-cnosme MATCH Bonn Applicaties lea August 7, 1920, serial ne. 401,370. Renewed october 26, 1922. serial No. 597,139.

To all whom t may concern s i Be it known that I, RAMoN GONZALEZ, residing at Manila, Philippine Islands, have invent-ed new and useful Improvements in Self-Closing Match Boxesof which the following is a specication. y

This invention relates to match boxes and has 'for its object the provision of a. match box which is vprovided with a. spring 4interposed between the, casing, orl shuck and the tray, the purpose of the spring being to close he box when its use is no longer desired and consequently prevent the boX'from being :accidentally: opened and the matches yfrom being spilled in the pocket.

fin important object is the provision of a match box of this character in which the shuck or casing is formed with a plurality of ears which are stamped out and bent and designed for retaining upon the sides of the shuck the abrasive chemically treated strips upon which the matches may be struck, it

being observable that the` device is intended primarily for the use of safety matches.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which is simple and inexpensive in manufacture, efficient in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art. v

lilith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 3 is a cross sectional View, partly.

illustrating the formation of the abrasive strip retaining lugsy or tongues, and

Figure a is a bottom plan view with the shuck broken away.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings, I have shown my device as including a rectangular casing or shuck 10 which is formed preferablyof sheet metal and of any desired size though in actual practice it is preferable that the device'be formed of a size suitable for containing matches of the so-called safety type. At its opposite ends the shuck is formed with retaining lugs 11. At its longitudinal edges the shuck is cut and stamped to provide a. plurality of vtongues 12 which are arranged in series 'and i `which are bent outwardly in slightly spacedv relation to the sides of the shuck to servev as i retaining. means for removable :strips 13 coated with the usual chemically: `treated abrasive material upon which safety matches may be struck; At its `cornersthe shuck is formed with relatively smalllugs 14e which prevent longitudinal displacement of the strips 13. i

-65 Disposed within theshuck 10is the match i holding tray 15 which is also preferably formed'of sheet metal and which is of a' size to slide easily within the shuck. The tray is of considerably less thickness thanthe 'shu'clr'y yso as to provide a space between itsvbottom and the adjacent Wall of the shuck or casing and within which space is disposed aspring` 16 similar in construction to a clock spring and formed serpentine in form with its conbottom of the tray. Under ordinary conditions the endmost convolution of the springV `engages against the retaining lugs 11 at commodation'ofthe lugs 11 and to define' i spaced lugs 19 which engage the endmost convolutionsof the spring. e

.In the use of the device, matches are dis-y so p posed within the tray 15 in theprdinar'y..--,l manner. It Willbe observedthat the spring I 16 engaging the lugs 11 and the" lugs 19 will,v

under ordinary circumstances,- operate to-` hold the'tray entirely within the shuclr so as to prevent spilling of the matches-whenV` I l l the device is carried in the pocket of the user. When it is desired to'withdraw any of the matches it is merely necessary that the operator grasp the shuck and press one finger against one end of 'the tray whereupon Y' the tray will be slid with respect to the shuckV lto have one endv extending therebeyond, the spring 16 being of course compressed between the lugs 19 at the end of the tray engaged by the linger and the retaining lugs 11 at theopposite end of 4 the shuck.

.INhen the operator releases pressure they spring will operate to return the tray to normal position entirely vwithin the shuck. As the construction is identically the same lat both ends of the device it will be seen that it makes no dierence which endisengaged. i

bythe nger and pressed.

75 volutions extending substantially across the In actnal practice a plurality et the removableestrips 13 would be provided so that they may be replaced when Worn and it will be observed that the tongues 12 will hold these strips iirmly in position and yet in such a Way that they may be removed and replaced When necessary.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form7 construction, and arrangement of? parts as will not depart from t ie spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l.. A device ci the character described comprising a shuck formed as a rectangular casing, abrasive strip retaining means on the sides of said shuck, retaining lugs formed at the opposite ends ot the shuck, a tray slidably disposed Within the shuck and of less depth than the later whereby to deline a space between the bottom ot the tray and the shuck, a spring of serpentine Jform disposed Within said space and having its endmost convolutions engaging against said lugs, and the end Walls of the tray being recessed for the accommodation ot said lugs and to deiine at each end of the tray spaced lugs likewise engaging the endmost convolutions of the spring.

2. A match box of the character described comprising a shuck and a tray co-extensive in length, the tray being of less depth than the shuclr Wherebv to define a space between the bottom oiC the tray and the shuck, a spring located Within said space, and lugs on the ends of the tray engaging the ends of the spring.

3. A match box ot the character described comprising a shucl: formed at its ends With retaining lugs, a tray slidable Within the shuck and ot less depth than the s'hnck whereby to define a space between its bottom and the bottom of the latter, a spring disposed Within said space and engaging said lugs, and lugs formed on the ends of the tray at the sides of the lugs on the shuck.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

RAMON GONZALEZ. 

